Rockford-area community celebrates 5 new Golden Apple teachers

Friday

Mar 14, 2014 at 8:38 PMMar 14, 2014 at 8:38 PM

By Corina CurryRockford Register Star

ROCKFORD — This year’s list of Golden Apple Award recipients run the gamut from a groundbreaking elementary engineering technology teacher to a prekindergarten autism specialist to a woman who teaches at the school she attended as a kid.

Five Rockford-area teachers were surprised in their schools Friday by a team of Golden Apple well-wishers, principals, district leaders, family members, co-workers and media.

“It’s really exciting because someone walks in and then more and more people keep coming. ... That really warmed my heart,” said Carolyn Massier, a second-grade teacher at Rock Cut Elementary in Loves Park.

“I thought ‘Oh my gosh, all of these people are here for me’.”

Massier is the teacher at the school she used to attend. Amanda Schiescher of Washington Academy in Belvidere is the engineering technology teacher. Sarah Meyers of Fairview Early Childhood Center in Rockford is the autism specialist.

The other recipients: fifth-grade teacher Joshua Rollins of Washington Academy in Rockford and Erin Salberg, a first-grade teacher at Rockton Grade School.

What their bosses said

Joshua Rollins: “Josh is a rock star. ... The relationships he develops with his students, his intellect ... he’s just very good at what he does,” said Jim Parker, principal of Washington Academy in Rockford.

Carolyn Massier: “Kids are literally kicking their feet with excitement under their desks when they’re listening to her teach,” said Walter James, principal at Rock Cut.

Amanda Schiescher: “She’s really embraced technology and has taken her classroom to the next level,” said Megan Johnson, principal at Washington Academy in Belvidere.

Erin Salberg: “The No. 1 thing that makes her so great is how much she loves and cares for her kids,” Rockton Grade School Principal Glenn Terry said.

Prizes and parties

It all started in the fall, when the Golden Apple Foundation of Rockford started collecting nominations from the community. It got 700 nominations for 420 teachers.

The list was narrowed to 20 teachers in December.

Winners will receive a cash award, a professional development stipend, a Rockford University scholarship, a laptop computer and computer software, compliments of Entré Computer Solutions, and a desktop computer, compliments of Rockford Computers for Schools.

The annual Golden Apple Banquet for excellence in education and honoring the Golden Apple recipients is scheduled for May 2 at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center.